NOTE 5 - LINE OF CREDIT AND LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITIES (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 29, 2012
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End	7.00%
Costs in Excess of Billings on Uncompleted Contracts or Programs (in Dollars)	$ 1,651,000		$ 3,840,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Eligible Costs in Excess of Billings through March 31, 2013 [Member] | PNC Credit Facility [Member]
Costs in Excess of Billings on Uncompleted Contracts or Programs (in Dollars)			1,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Eligible Costs in Excess of Billings April 1, 2013 to April 15, 2013 [Member] | PNC Credit Facility [Member]
Costs in Excess of Billings on Uncompleted Contracts or Programs (in Dollars)			500,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Eligible Costs in Excess of Billings Thereafter to Maturity Date [Member] | PNC Credit Facility [Member]
Costs in Excess of Billings on Uncompleted Contracts or Programs (in Dollars)			0
Subsequent Event [Member] | Line of Credit, March 15, 2013 [Member] | PNC Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity (in Dollars)			27,500,000
Forbearance Agreement, First Amendment [Member] | PNC Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms	required to retain, for the duration of the Forbearance Period, a turnaround consultant toprovide a turnaround or exit plan, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, and services as are reasonably necessary to facilitate the Company's ability to operate in compliance with the terms of the loan agreement
Forbearance Agreement, Second Amendment [Member] | PNC Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms	commenced on September 27, 2012 and ends on the earlier to occur of (a) 5:00 p.m. (Dallas, Texas time) on April 30, 2013; or (b) the date that any forbearance default (which includes certain events of bankruptcy and any default or event of default under the Credit Agreement other than the Subject Events of Default) occurs; provided, however, the Forbearance Period will expire on (i) January 10, 2013 if Agent is not provided a copy of the final report prepared by Simmons of its analysis of the strategic restructuring options available to the Board of Directors of the Company or (ii) January 31, 2013 if the Board of Directors of the Company fails to act in a manner consistent with the strategic recommendations of Simmons & Co. set forth in the final report in a manner acceptable to Agent in its Permitted Discretion (as defined in the Credit Agreement)
Subject Events of Default [Member] | PNC Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms	(i) failure to comply with the Tangible Net Worth and Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio financial covenants for the fiscal quarters ended June 30, 2012, September 29, 2012 and December 29, 2012 (ii) failure to maintain Average Excess Availability for the month ended August 31, 2012 and thereafter, (iii) failure to comply with the Borrowing Base Certificate delivery requirements for the months ending May 31, 2012 and thereafter, (iv) failure to comply with the monthly financial statement delivery requirements for the month ending July 31, 2012 and thereafter, (v) failure to comply with the Credit Agreement as a result of cross default under the EX-IM Transaction Specific Credit Agreement dated July 13, 2011, by and between ENGlobal U.S., Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank; (vi) failure to comply with the Tangible Net Worth and Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio financial covenants for the fiscal quarters ending September 29, 2012 and December 29, 2012, and (vii) failure to maintain Average Excess Availability throughout the Forbearance Period
Line of Credit, February 1, 2013 [Member] | PNC Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity (in Dollars)			31,500,000
Line of Credit, April 30, 2013 [Member] | PNC Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity (in Dollars)			26,500,000
Second Forbearance Period, Second Amendment [Member] | PNC Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms	(a) the Borrowers have agreed to continue to retain the turnaround consultant to perform the scope of duties agreed to by Agent and the Lenders, dated October 30, 2012 and (b) ENGlobal US has agreed to provide Agent with weekly updates of the Simmons strategic alternative process in form and detail satisfactory to Agent in its sole discretion
Line of Credit, Amendment Fee (in Dollars)	262,500
PNC Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity (in Dollars)	35,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Description	Lender's Commitment Percentage of the lesser of (a) $35.0 million less the maximum undrawn amount on all outstanding letters of credit, or (b) an amount equal to the sum of: (i) up to 85% of Eligible Receivables, plus (ii) up to the lesser of (x) up to 85% of Eligible Extended Term Receivables or (y) $3.0 million, plus (iii) up to the lesser of (x) up to 85% of Eligible Government Receivables or (y) $800,000, plus (iv) up to the lesser of (x) 75% of Eligible Unbilled Receivables or (y) $8.5 million; provided, however, that no more than $800,000 of the amount resulting from the calculation of this part (iv) may be attributable to Eligible Unbilled Receivables owed by Government Customers, plus (v) up to the lesser of (x) up to 50% of Eligible Costs in Excess of Billings or (y) $4.0 million, minus (vi) the Maximum Undrawn Amount of all outstanding letters of credit, minus (vii) such reserves as Agent may deem proper and necessary in the exercise of its discretion
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate Description	Loans will bear interest at (a) the sum of the Alternate Base Rate (defined as a fluctuating rate equal to the highest of (x) the commercial lending rate of Agent as publicly announced and in effect on such day, (y) the daily federal funds open rate as quoted by ICAP North America, Inc. in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%, and (z) the Daily Libor Rate plus 1% with the Daily LIBOR Rate determined by taking the LIBOR rate published in the Wall Street Journal and dividing it by a number equal to 1 minus the reserve percentage on that day as determined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve), plus the Applicable Margin (defined below) for Domestic Rate Loans or (b) the sum of the Eurodollar Rate (defined as a fluctuating rate determined by Agent by dividing the quoted LIBOR rate by a number equal to 1 minus the reserve percentage on that day as determined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve), plus the Applicable Margin with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans
Line of Credit Facility, Collateral	loan agreement are secured by a first priority perfected lien against any and all personal property assets of the Company (other than certain excluded property, including certain accounts receivable related to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium pledged under the Ex-Im Transaction Specific Credit Agreement dated as of July 13, 2011 between ENGlobal US and Wells Fargo Bank)
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	May 29, 2015
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms	Maintain as of the last day of each applicable period a Tangible Net Worth at least equal to the amount set forth for such period: (a) for each of the fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2012, September 29, 2012 and December 29, 2012, a minimum Tangible Net Worth of 90% of the Tangible Net Worth of the Company on a consolidated basis on the Closing Date, and (b) for the fiscal quarter ending March 30, 2013, and as of the last day of each fiscal quarter thereafter, a minimum Tangible Net Worth equal to that required on December 31 of the immediately preceding fiscal year plus (i) 75% of the Company's after tax net income for such year if such after tax net income is greater than $0, or (ii) $0, if the Company's after tax net income for such year is less than or equal to $0. Maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.10 to 1.00, measured as of (a) June 30, 2012, for the fiscal quarter then most recently ended, (b) September 29, 2012, for the two fiscal quarter period then most recently ended, (c) December 29, 2012, for the three fiscal quarter period then most recently ended, (d) March 30, 2013 and as of the last day of each fiscal quarter thereafter, for the four fiscal quarter period then most recently ended. Maintain at all times Average Excess Availability of not less than $3.5 million measured monthly as of the last day of the month. Not permit the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Company's performance of its Caspian project obligations to exceed the aggregate amount of cash receipts attributable to the Caspian Contracts by more than the following amounts: (a) for the month ending June 30, 2012, $6.5 million, (b) for the month ending September 29, 2012, $1.0 million, and (c) for the month ending December 29, 2012, $0. The Company will not be party to mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, reorganizations or similar transactions. The Company will not sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of their properties or assets (subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Loan Agreement). The Company will not contract for, purchase or make any expenditure or commitment for capital expenditures in the fiscal year ending December 29, 2012 and in any fiscal year thereafter, in an aggregate amount in excess of $3.5 million. The Company will not declare, pay or make any dividend or distribution on any shares of common or preferred stock or use any funds, property or assets to repurchase or otherwise retire any common or preferred stock
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Compliance	Company was not in compliance with the certain financial covenants
Ex-Im Bank Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity (in Dollars)			9,500,000
Line of Credit Facility, Collateral	$6.1 and 2.3 million in cash at March 30, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively	2.3 million in cash at March 30, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms	The Company will not be a party to mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, reorganizations or similar transactions. The Company will not contract for, purchase or make any expenditure or commitment for capital expenditures in any fiscal year, in an aggregate amount in excess of $3.5 million. The Company will not incur any indebtedness except for (a) ENGlobal's liabilities under the PNC Credit Facility, and (b) any other liabilities of ENGlobal not to exceed $1 million in indebtedness in any 12 month period for the unsecured financing of insurance premiums. The Company will not declare, pay or make any dividend or distribution on any shares of common or preferred stock or use any funds, property or assets to repurchase or otherwise retire any common or preferred stock. The Company will maintain as of the last day of each applicable period a Tangible Net Worth ratio not greater than 2.25 to 1.0. The Company will maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.75 to 1.00, measured as of each fiscal quarter end commencing September 30, 2011, determined on a rolling 4-quarter basis
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Compliance	Company was not in compliance with certain financial covenants
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding (in Dollars)			$ 9,100,000